Contributing to biodiversity conservation and ecosystem health in Naibunga Community Conservancy
Due to their limited dispersal ability, sensitive and permeable skin, reptiles and amphibians can detect the slightest change in the environment, making them key indicators of environmental health. Photo courtesy: Dr. Titus Adhola, University of Nairobi.
[NANYUKI, Kenya] It is said that variety is the spice of life, and this couldn't be more true than in nature – with its abundance of flora and fauna, and intricate networks of intra- and inter-dependencies to support various life forms. As often happens in our own lives, the “spice” requires periodic evaluation; are things working as they should (health), or is some tweaking necessary (change)? Similarly, biodiversity assessment is used to evaluate and determine the status of life in a defined area that may contain one or more types of ecosystems or habitats.
The semi-arid landscape of Laikipia, Kenya, looks vastly different in dry versus wet seasons, prompting comparative assessment to establish conservation and restoration needs. For this reason, the Wyss Academy for Nature commissioned dry and wet season (July/August, 2023, and April, 2024, respectively) biodiversity and socioecological assessments of local livelihoods in Naibunga Community Conservancy, conducted in collaboration with expert teams from the University of Nairobi, the National Museums of Kenya, Technical University of Kenya, and the Directorate of Resource Surveys and Remote Sensing.
This biodiversity assessment was the first of its kind in the Naibunga Community Conservancy and examined a wide range of taxonomic groups including birds, mammals, reptiles, amphibians, invertebrates, and plants in a restored landscape. Their presence, or absence, is used as indicators of ecosystem health.
Findings from the assessments have been consolidated in a recent report, that will be an important source of information for monitoring the impact of semi-circular bunds as landscape restoration mechanisms and for development of income generating activities. Further, the comparative season-focused data is a positive contribution for designing and identifying indicator species for long term future monitoring of changes in species composition.
Concerning inclusivity in biodiversity conservation, Professor Margaret Owuor, an accomplished conservation ecologist and lead of the Integrative Biodiversity Conservation Science research team at the Wyss Academy for Nature, opines, “Ecological restoration of different degraded ecosystems as defined in the Bonn Challenge aims to restore biodiversity and mitigate climate change. This makes restoration a mesh of science, practice and policy in an integrative approach. We see a need for restoration to more inclusive of different ecosystem types and different knowledge systems, that is, indigenous people and local communities’ understanding of ecosystem functions.”
The release of this report is timely, as all roads lead to Cali, Colombia, for the Sixteenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP16) running from October 21 through to November 1. The event will focus on, among other topics, progress on targets and updating of national biodiversity strategies and action plans in line with the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF). The four main goals of the GBF center around: (1) sustainably increasing the area of natural ecosystems; (2) sustainable use and management of nature’s contributions to people; (3) fair and equitable sharing of monetary and non-monetary benefits of the use genetic resources, and; (4) adequate and varied resources to implement the GBF.
Professor Owuor, who is part of the Wyss Academy’s delegation to the COP16, has great expectations for the event. She shares, “I hope to see concrete steps on designing and implementing monitoring strategies for multiple ecosystems and biodiversity through the objectives set by different countries in National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans.”
Click below to read the report:
Read below the key highlights from the report:
Click below to read the key highlights from the report:
Subject: Acknowledging Your Outstanding Contribution to Landscape Conservation and Community Empowerment
Dear Wyss Academy For Nature,
I am writing to express our deepest appreciation for the exceptional work your team has been doing in the areas of land restoration, water scarcity, peace building, and women’s empowerment. Your dedication to transforming landscapes and improving lives has been nothing short of inspiring.
Through your tireless efforts in land restoration, you have not only rejuvenated our environment but also fostered sustainable practices that benefit both nature and local communities. Your work on addressing water scarcity has brought much-needed relief to areas that were once facing severe challenges, ensuring that access to water is no longer a distant hope but a tangible reality.
Subject: Acknowledging Your Outstanding Contribution to Landscape Conservation and Community Empowerment
Dear Wyss Academy For Nature,
I am writing to express our deepest appreciation for the exceptional work your team has been doing in the areas of land restoration, water scarcity, peace building, and women’s empowerment. Your dedication to transforming landscapes and improving lives has been nothing short of inspiring.
Through your tireless efforts in land restoration, you have not only rejuvenated our environment but also fostered sustainable practices that benefit both nature and local communities. Your work on addressing water scarcity has brought much-needed relief to areas that were once facing severe challenges, ensuring that access to water is no longer a distant hope but a tangible reality.
Moreover,…